USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program ends

Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

A view of the University of Southern California.

A view of the University of Southern California. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

David Ng

The USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program, a pioneering series of fellowships for professional arts journalists, has come to an end. Director Sasha Anawalt, an associate professor and director of arts journalism programs at USC, confirmed the closure of the 12-year-old program.

The fellowships have ended because the Getty Foundation is no longer funding the program, Anawalt said. The last series of fellowships concluded in November, she said.

Deborah Marrow, director, Getty Foundation, said in a statement that the foundation is proud to have supported the program, but "we have focused our grants on special initiatives and we do not provide indefinite support for any initiative."

Since 2002, the competitive program has brought midcareer arts journalists to Southern California for a two- to three-week immersion in the area's cultural landscape. The program also provided experience and training in multimedia tools and social media.

The program began with six fellows on a three-week program. Over the years, the number of fellows fluctuated, with 15 participants in recent sessions.

The Getty Foundation had been the program's main funder, though the fellowships were based at USC. "We've had a great relationship," Anawalt said of the Getty's past support.

"The grant was initially given for three years. The fact that I've been able to keep it going was amazing."

The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism continues to offer a master's program in arts journalism, designed to be completed in nine and a half months.